DAY >> A former three-time winter Olympian says ultra-tight security should prevent any problems at the upcoming Games, despite ominous threats from terror groups.

Opening ceremonies for the 22nd Winter Olympics take place Friday in Sochi, Russia, a Black Sea resort town near the Caucasus Mountains where outdoor snow events are held.

The U.S. team includes Sean Doherty, a member of the Saratoga Biathlon Club, run by the Schreiner family near Great Sacandaga Lake in the town of Day.

“It’s such a crazy world we live in nowadays,” said Curt Schreiner, an Iraq war veteran and biathlete who competed in the 1988, ‘92 and ‘94 Winter Games. “I’m really hoping nothing goes wrong. I think the Russians are on top of it as well as anybody can be. The Russian president, Putin, is so concerned about making this a successful Olympics. This is their show. That’s what the Olympics have become lately, countries showing off, more than the Games.”

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Russian officials insist that Sochi is the most secure sports venue in the world.

“I’m sure they’ll have more than enough spectators at all the different events, especially biathlon,” Schreiner said. “They won’t have a hard time filling up the stadium, that’s for sure.”

With a $51 billion price tag, these will be the most expensive Olympics in history, surpassing by far the 2008 Summer Games in China, despite having fewer sports, events and participating countries.

Schreiner, who competed internationally for close to a decade, said he only recalls concerns about security one or two times during his career.

“In 1990, at the World Championships in Austria, I do remember having armed security guards with us, with machine guns,” he said. “I don’t even know why. The next year in Germany we had security guards, too.”

Athletes are so focused on competing that they don’t let such things distract them, he said.

Doherty, 18, of New Hampshire took part in a running biathlon just last summer at the Schreiners’ facility and has been going there since he was 13.

“He was in the Junior Worlds last year,” Schreiner said. “He’s just an amazing athlete.”

The U.S. has never won a medal in biathlon, which combines Nordic skiing with shooting skills. Tim Burke of Lake Placid represents the best hope to change that this year. He finished second in the 20-kilometer individual competition at the 2013 World Championships.

Lowell Bailey of Lake Placid is on the U.S. team, too.

The top biathlete in the world is from France, which has one of best overall teams along with Norway, Germany and Russia.

“The Russians aren’t the favorites, but they have a very good team,” Schreiner said. “America has a strong team, especially on the women’s side. On any given day anyone can pull off a good race.”